The auction was due to be held at the city farm’s Winter Fayre this weekend.

Bristol Vegan Action (BVA) has offered a sanctuary for the nine turkeys that were due to be auctioned. But the farm owner says the birds will still be slaughtered for their meat.

Sanctuary offer

BVA set up a crowdfunder to raise money for the farm’s chosen homeless charity in return for the farm freeing the birds with Coppershell Farm Sanctuary, Wiltshire, offering to take all nine birds in.

In a statement, St Werburgh’s said: “We are aware raising animals for meat is an emotive issue, and having listened to the views of a small section of our community, we have decided not to hold our annual turkey auction.

“However, the aims and objectives of the farm will remain unchanged and our turkeys will still be sold for Christmas.”

Vegan campaign group Viva! said it has contacted St Werburgh’s City Farm to register its “opposition to the slaughter of nine innocent beings who have touched so many hearts this Christmas”.